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Bruins come from behind to beat Habs 5-3

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The Bruins scored three goals in the second half of the third period and then added an empty-netter to beat the Canadiens 5-3 in Boston Saturday.

The Bruins, trailing 3-1 midway through the third period, got goals from Dougie Hamilton, Patrice Bergeron and Reilly Smith to stun the Canadiens, who looked to have a safe lead. Milan Lucic added an empty net goal to ice the victory with just seconds remaining.

The stunning comeback spoiled what had been a often-clinical performance by the Canadiens which saw the Habs take a two goal lead after Thomas Vanek deflected a pair of P.K. Subban shots past Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask on the powerplay.

The Canadiens scored three straight goals after trailing the Bruins by a goal going into the second period, in spite of being outchanced by a significant margin.

Vanek's second redirection came off a slapshot by P.K. Subban from the point at 6:30 of the third period, as Dougie Hamilton cooled his heels in the penalty box after interfering with Habs’ forward Brendan Gallagher.

Vanek's first of the game had given the Habs a 2-1 lead at 18:09 of the second. Vanek redirected a P.K. Subban wrist shot on a four-on-three powerplay to give the Montreal Canadiens a 2-1 advantage.

Bruins' defenceman Andrej Meszaros was in the penalty box at the time after mugging Tomas Plekanec along the boards, to give the Canadiens plenty of room to skate after coincidental minors to Lars Eller and Torey Krug.

A Mike Weaver one-timer from the circle had tied the game at 1:09 of the second frame. The goal came after a frantic goalmouth scramble which saw Rask knocked down and scrambling to regain position. Tomas Plekanec passed back to the advancing Weaver who made no mistake with a low blocker-side slapshot. Brendan Gallagher also assisted on the goal.

An ornery Boston Bruins team had taken a 1-0 lead over the Canadiens into the locker room after the first period thanks to Daniel Paille's first of the playoffs, a shot from the slot that changed direction to beat Carey Price over the blocker.

Paille's shot - which deflected upwards off of Francis Boullion's right skate - came off a pass from Carl Soderberg from the corner to Price's left. Bruins' defenceman Andrej Meszaros was also credited with an assist on the goal scored at 13:02 of the first.

The Bruins outshot the Canadiens 13-6 in the opening period, which included a 1:00 five-on-three advantage for the Bruins, which the Canadiens successfully killed off.

The Habs outshot the Bruins in the second but got many excellent chances as Carey Price made a number of top-notch stops to fluster the Bruins, including one on Patrice Bergeron, who was stymied on a shot from the slot. Price then made a lightning-quick blocker stop on Torey Krug (who led Boston with seven shots on goal) after a puck bounced into the circle off the boards behind the net.

Milan Lucic later excited the crowd with what appeared to be a goal but it was called off as the puck had clearly been knocked in by his hand. Soon after, Price denied Lucic with a brilliant stop with his left leg.

The teams were hit with four penalties each in the first period and other apparent holding, cross-checking and hooking infractions went overlooked.

The Bruins were served four penalties in the second period to the Canadiens' two but managed to stay out of the penalty box after the Hamilton infraction early in the third.

Boston fans continued to boo Subban lustily in spite of many fans expressing regret following racist remarks made against him on Twitter following Game One.

Speedy rookie Michaël Bournival replaced Travis Moen in the lineup for the Canadiens and played on the fourth line with Daniel Brière and Dale Weise.

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Photos

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges (26), goalie Carey Price (31) and defenseman P.K. Subban (76) react as fans celebrate with Boston Bruins right wing Reilly Smith (18), center Patrice Bergeron (37) and Brad Marchand (63) after Smith's goal during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey second-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens in Boston, Saturday, May 3, 2014. The Bruins won 5-3 to even the best-of-seven games series at one game apiece. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) dumps Montreal Canadiens center David Desharnais (51) to the ice during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey second-round Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston, Saturday, May 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk (55) checks Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) as Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) protects the net during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series in Boston, Saturday, May 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban flips the puck prior to facing the Boston Bruins in Game 2 in the second-round of the Stanley Cup hockey playoff series in Boston, Saturday, May 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand, left, tangles with Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey second-round Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston, Saturday, May 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Montreal Canadiens left wing Rene Bourque (17) upends Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller (86) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey second-round Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston, Saturday, May 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Montreal Canadiens left wing Thomas Vanek (20) pokes the puck past Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) for a goal during the second period of Game 2 in the second-round of the Stanley Cup hockey playoff series in Boston, Saturday, May 3, 2014. Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) defends on the play. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Montreal Canadiens fans watch warm ups prior to Game 2 in the second-round of the Stanley Cup hockey playoff series against the Boston Bruins in Boston, Saturday, May 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)